Compact floribunda rose plant named &#39;poulac003&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new compact floribunda rose which has abundant, yellow flowers and attractive foliage. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of acompact floribunda rose plant which originated from a controlledcrossing between two unnamed seedlings created by the same inventor. Thetwo parents were crossed during the summer of 1995 and the resultingseeds were planted in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark.The new variety is named ‘POULac003’.

[0002] The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, anunnamed seedling, by the following combination of characteristics:

[0003] 1. ‘POULac003’ has deep yellow flowers, while the seed parent hassoft yellow flowers.

[0004] 2. ‘POULac003’ is lower, compact and more bushy in growth whencompared to the seed parent.

[0005] The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, anunnamed seedling by the following combination of characteristics:

[0006] 1. ‘POULac003’ flowers are a deep yellow flower color, whereasthe pollen parent has soft yellow flowers.

[0007] 2. ‘POULac003’ when grown as a pot plant has a longer shelf lifethan the pollen parent.

[0008] The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety was tocreate a new and distinct variety for garden use with unique qualities,such as:

[0009] 1. Uniform and abundant yellow flowers;

[0010] 2. Vigorous, but compact growth when propagated both as a buddedrose and on its own roots;

[0011] 3. Disease resistance.

[0012] 4. Suitable characteristics for apot polant cultivation.

[0013] This combination of qualities is not present in previouslyavailable commercial cultivars of this type and distinguish ‘POULac003’from all other varieties of which we are aware.

[0014] As part of their rose development program, L. Pernille Olesen andMogens N. Olesen germinated the seeds from the aforementionedhybridization during winter 1995 and conducted evaluations on theresulting seedlings in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark.

[0015] ‘POULac003’ was selected in the spring 1996 by the inventors as asingle plant from the progeny of the aforementioned hybridization.

[0016] Asexual reproduction of ‘POULac003’ by traditional budding androoted cuttings was first done by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen intheir nursery in Fredensborg, Denmark in July 1996. This initial andother subsequent asexual propagations conducted in controlledenvironments have demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘POULac003’are true to type and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0017] The accompanying color illustration shows as true as isreasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type thevariety rose ‘POULac003’. Specifically illustrated in SHEET 1 include:

[0018] 1. Rose plant exhibiting foliage, leaves, and leaflets.

[0019] 2. Flower bud, partially opened bud, and open bloom;

[0020] 3. General plant growth and habit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

[0021] The following is a description of ‘POULac003’, as observed in itsgrowth during trials at the testing station Prüfstelle Rethmar under thetesting authority Bundessortenamtin in Hannover, Germany and at theinventor's nursery in Fredensborg, Denmark. Color references are madeusing The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart,1995, except where common terms of color are used.

[0022] For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rosevariety ‘POULsiana’, a rose variety from the same inventors describedand illustrated in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/165,412dated Oct. 2, 1998 are compared to ‘POULac003’ in Chart 1. CHART 1‘POULac003’ ‘POULsiana’ Color of open Yellow Group 10B Yellow Group 7Bflower, outer side, middle zone. Petalage 25+ 15-20 Flower size 8-10 cm 5-6 cm

[0023] Parents:

[0024]Seed parent.—Unnamed seedling.

[0025]Pollen parent.—Unnamed seedling.

[0026] Classification:

[0027]Botanical.—Rosa hybrida.

[0028]Commercial.—Compact floribunda.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

[0029] Blooming Habit: Continuous.

[0030] Flower Bud:

[0031]Bud form.—Ovate.

[0032]Sepals.—Medium appendages.

[0033]Receptacle.—Size: Small.

[0034]Peduncle.—Surface: Average to above average abundance of hairs andprickles.

[0035]Borne.—Very few to few flowering shoots.

[0036] Flower Bloom:

[0037]Fragrance.—Weak to medium.

[0038]Size.—Medium. Average flower diameter is between 8-10 cm whenopen.

[0039]Form.—Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Upper part: Flat.Lower part: Flat. Viewed from above: Irregularly rounded. Petalage:Double. Average range: 25+ petals under normal conditions.

[0040] Color:

[0041]Petals.—Inner Side: Middle zone: Yellow Group 7D. Marginal zone:Yellow Group 7D. Basal petal spot: no coloration observed. Outer side:Middle zone: Yellow Group 10B. Marginal zone: Yellow Group 10B. Basalpetal spot: no coloration observed.

[0042] General Tonality: On open flower between Yellow Group 7D and 10B.

[0043] Petals:

[0044]Petal reflex.—Strong.

[0045]Undulation of margin.—Medium.

[0046] Reproductive Organs:

[0047]Filaments.—Color: Yellow

[0048]Hips.—Shape: Pitcher-shaped.

PLANT

[0049] Plant growth: Compact, bushy and even growth. When grown as a15-cm pot plant, the average height of the plant is 40 cm and theaverage width is 60 cm.

[0050] Stems:

[0051]Thorns.—Incidence: Few. Size: Small and medium. Shape: Concave.

[0052] Plant Foliage:

[0053]Leaf size.—Medium.

[0054]Glossy.—Upper side weak glossiness.

[0055]Color.—Upper Leaf Surface: Medium green. Juvenile foliage:Exhibits anthocyanin on young shoots. Anthocyanin intonation: Color:Bronze to reddish brown.

[0056] Plant Leaflets:

[0057]Leaflet.—Cross Section: Flat. Margin Undulation: Moderate.

[0058]Terminal leaflet.—Length of blade: Medium. Width of blade: Medium.Shape: Rounded.

[0059] Disease Resistance: Above average resistance to mildew, rust,black spot, and Botrytis under normal growing conditions in Fredensborg,Denmark and Hannover, Germany.

[0060] Cold Hardiness: The variety ‘POULac003’ has been found to be coldhardy in Fredensborg, Denmark; and Hannover, Germany.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the compact floribundarose class, substantially as herein illustrated and described as adistinct and novel rose variety due to its abundant yellow flowers,disease resistance, and extended period of bloom.